Word Origin & History

confuse c.1550, in literal sense "mix or mingle things so as to render the elements indistinguishable;" attested from mid-18c. in active, figurative sense of "discomfit in mind or feeling;" not in general use until 19c., taking over senses formerly belonging to confound, dumbfound, flabbergast etc. The pp. confused (q.v.) is attested much earlier (serving as an alternate p.t. to confound), and the verb here might be a back-formation from it. Related: Confusing (1846).

Example Sentences for confusing

Some sweet, confusing influence, he knew not what, passed into his blood.

The reader should take note of this term and refrain from confusing it with the sails.

She had often been on errands alone in the great city, where everything was so confusing.

The din is so confusing, and your aunt is quite right—one ought to make a list.

He may be described as confusing the attraction of gravitation with the attraction of cohesion.

The rags that clothed his body were confusing and indefinite.

Within the forest the world did not seem so vast, so confusing to the eye.

The night had been so confusing that she felt in very much of a hurry to see the day.

We shall have to have an expression of our own upon this confusing subject.

It was confusing to look at someone and look at a different image of her.